The days drug out into weeks and things at the tower did not improve. Against Stargazer's and Hawk's predictions, Sabre didn't improve. He got a little bit weaker each day, a little bit thinner, a little colder. Worse, he was gathering his entire cohort to his side, and they weren't there just to wish him well. They were all falling victim to the same plague. The officers in the medica had no idea what the cause was.

Quin still hadn't woken up.

The only bright spot was my own recovery. I could limp around the tower without help, provided I didn't do too many stairs on my own, and the medica predicted I'd make a full recovery. My red humours were low, apparently, which made sense considering the amount of blood I'd lost and I was given a recovery plan that involved an extra helping of red meat and some time with a project I was passionate about. There were certainly worse recovery plans available.

With the village empty, our scouts found the two Drake's I'd helped to bring down strung up and bled in a smokehouse. They'd come to the Guild so they wouldn't go to waste. The extra materials had gone straight to my workbench in the crafting hall as part of my recovery plan, and Mouse had a brand new cloak made of scales and lined with wolf's fur. The next thing on my plate was finding a use for the Drake's skull and back plates. I was hoping to find some way to reinforce Quin's helmet but the steel was not cooperating. When they woke up they were going to have a better helmet for sure, one that no mace in the realm could break.

Mouse knocked on the side of my cubicle, pulling me away from my work. "Snip," he said. His voice was rough and his eyes were red. "We're needed in the medica hall."

The bottom dropped out of my stomach and I dropped my tools. "Is it Quin?"

"Stargazer didn't say. Things don't look good though. What if Quin catches what all the other Warriors are coming down with?"

I stood and took him by the hand. "We don't know that. Best not to leap to any conclusions."

Mouse took in a deep shaky breath. "Right, you're right."

"It could be good news," I said. I didn't know how much I believed myself. "Maybe they're awake."

"I hope so," said Mouse. "With all this running around and planning, I could use them right about now. I'm about ready to fall apart."

I nodded. "And Quin always seems to know just how to pull you back together. I miss that too."

We made our way out of the crafting hall and out onto the grounds. "Well, shit," I said. "Is it afternoon already? I forgot to eat again."

"I'll steal you something after we see Quin."

"You're too good to me." It was slow going, hobbling to the medica hall Better than last week by a long shot, but still slower than I'd like. This damn leg was getting to be a real pain. If it took any longer to heal, I'd be tempted to track Wraith down and see if he had any forbidden magic that could heal someone instantly ... and then once I was fixed, I'd kill him. "Do you think there'll be an end to all of this?"

"This what?" asked Mouse, gesturing vaguely around. "The whole war with some kind of strange wizard and his armies of undead? Us studying revenants in the Tower undercroft? Our Guild masters asking our opinions on things and making us make decisions? I think that should be wrapped up in two days."

"Good. If Hawk asks me for any more advice or opinions I'm going to snap. I don't think I ever want to be this important again."

"Me either. I just want this to blow over and go away."

A muscle in my leg twitched, sending a buzzing, irritated pain rattling up to my hip. "I need a second." I found a nice stump to sit on and took a precious moment to relax and enjoy the gentle hum of a fat bee flitting between the flowers.

"Did you hear the latest reports?"

I nodded. "Gut Hook and his thugs tracked a pack of the older shamblers to a cave north of the village. It seems to fit with our theory that Wraith is storing the undead in independent packs, or small maniples. Any idea why?"

Mouse shrugged. "You're still no fan of Gut Hook, eh?"

"Listen, you don't just forgive a guy stealing your lunch every day, plus he gave himself just the worst Guild Name. Only way it could be worse is if he put a 'the' in front of it."

"That was, what? Ten years ago?"

"Still he was seventeen and I was ten. It takes a real asshole to steal a kid's lunch."

"Well, I won't argue that," said Mouse. "And no, we can't seem to see any pattern or reason behind where the dead are holing up. They're vaguely close to the Tower, but not in any kind of strategic spots."

"And it's been how many days since the last attack?"

Mouse ran a hand through his hair and sat next to me on the stump. "About a week. He hasn't made a move since he took out Dagger and her team."

"I'm worried. I feel like he's planning something big."

"I agree," said Mouse. "It's been quiet for too long and we aren't really making any progress with our stack of bodies in the cellar."

I groaned. "Don't remind me. Hawk keeps asking for updates, and I don't know what to tell her."

"Should probably go with the truth." Mouse shrugged. "They just look like regular bodies, there's no reason they should be able to get up and walk around, they don't have any overly apparent weaknesses."

"That's not exactly going to make her happy," I said, shaking my head.

"Might as well get it over with, shouldn't we?"

"You're right," I said with a sigh. "I'm only going to feel worse the longer I sit on that news."

"You know, that almost sounds like a half reasonable answer. Who are you and what have you done with my Parsnip who runs away from all her problems and hides in the woods?"

"That Parsnip is still in there, and maybe if she had full use of both legs she would run away, but we could run as long as we want and still not get away from this one. The best way to get back to normal is to fight our way through, help where we can, do whatever it takes to keep our little corner of the world from going completely to hell. Besides, do you really think you could live with yourself if you just ran?"

Mouse looked down at his feet. "I know I could, and that's what scares the shit out of me. It's why I'm glad I have you and Quin. You both make me want to be better."

"Well," I said, leaning closer. "You're not the only one who thinks about running. Back before I had my first run in with Wraith I was convinced that hunting trip would be my last run for the Guild. I was going to steal Walter and just ride off into the distance."

Mouse shot me a scowl that nearly knocked me over. "You almost left? Without saying goodbye?"

"I know. It was selfish and stupid."

"And you gave Quin hell when you thought they were going to do the same thing."

I hung my head in my hands. "I know. I think I was mad at myself more than anything. I know it was wrong to think about slipping away on you guys. You're a brother to me, Mouse, and you deserve at least a goodbye."

Mouse laughed to himself. "I still can't believe you thought Quin was going to leave on us."

"I saw these letters in Quin's room. Well, half letters really. They weren't finished," I said, lifting my head. "It seemed pretty clear to me what their intentions were."

Mouse patted me on the shoulder. "Snip, you're the smartest fool I know. That's not what Quin was trying to say."

"You know about the letters?"

"Who do you think helped write them? You know Quin doesn't have much of a gift for words. They weren't happy with any of my suggestions though. When they wake up, we'll get it sorted out."

"What were they really trying to say?"

"I think Quin would prefer to tell you themself."

"Fine." I pushed myself to my feet with a groan. "Come on, let's go see Quin, then. Maybe they'll be up and we can get some answers."

Mouse slipped in under my arm, taking some of the weight from my injured leg. "I hope it's good news."

It took an excessive amount of time for me to hobble across the yard to the medica hall. Mouse shoved his way through the door and held it open for me. I limped inside and found Hawk and Stargazer crowding close around Sabre's bed.

"Glad you could make it," said Hawk. "We've had to move our council here. Seems like most of the Guild will be here at this rate." Hawk's cheek's were sunken and there was a sickly, sallow cast to her skin.

My shoulders slumped and I dropped my gaze to the floor. "I was hoping for better news."

"I know," said Hawk. She glanced over her shoulder where Quin lay unmoving. "But at least they aren't getting any worse. The medica are doing all they can to keep Quin alive. They've used every spell in the book, every potion they could brew but ..."

I brushed past her and took Quin by the hand. "But they still won't wake up."

"The good news is they aren't catching whatever the rest of the guild is coming down with."

A wet, hacking cough rolled out from behind the closed curtains of the bed opposite Quin's bed. A skeletal shaking hand pushed the curtains open, revealing what was left of Sabre. The old man was wasting away to nothing and his skin was loose and ashen. His eyes were dull and flocks of dried blood patterned his lips. "And that," he rasped. "Brings us to the reason I called this meeting. "I think I'm walking down my last road." He stood with a series of snaps, pops, and groans, and held out a hand to Hawk.

Hawk unsheathed her sword and pressed the hilt into Sabre's hand.

He grumbled and gave the blade a small flourish. "Not great, but it'll do."

I shared a confused look with Mouse. "Excuse me, but what's going on?"

"A promise I made to myself a lifetime ago. If I'm going to die, I'm dying on my feet, steel in hand." He lowered the sword and put a hand on my shoulder. "You're here so I can apologize to you. I was too harsh with you last time we spoke and you deserve better than that. You're a hell of a Ranger, quick and smart. You're resourceful. And I don't think I've seen anyone who's a better shot. Not even Hawk."

Sabre took his hand off my shoulder and took a step towards Mouse. "And Mouse. You and I haven't spent much time together at all, but from what Stargazer has to say about you that's a damn shame. The old bastard doesn't say it enough but he really does believe in you."

Stargazer limped around the hall sharing an encouraging word or a kind thought with every warrior there. When he was finished, he looped back around to Quin's bed and sat next to the wounded soldier.

"Alessia," he said. He didn't use Quin's name like a weapon anymore. This time he held it out like an olive branch, doing his best to bridge the gap between them.

I couldn't keep the sneer from my face. It was too little, too late, and Quin wasn't even awake to hear it.

"I don't have the words to explain how sorry I am," said Sabre. "I've had more time to think than I ever have in my whole damn life, and I don't know why it seemed so hard for me to listen to you. To put in the barest scrap of effort to see things from your angle. I'm sorry for all those times I called you 'sir' when you felt more like a lady. I'm sorry for letting the other apprentices badger you." He paused and wiped away a tear. "I'm sorry I let you be named after the dummy we knock down in jousting practice. It's not much or a reason, but I kept pushing you because I thought it would make you stronger. I thought it would harden you into the best version of yourself, but now I see it's made you resent me more than anything. And I don't think it was me pushing you down all those years who molded you into the wonderful Guildsman, no, Guildsperson, that you've become. Gods, I wish you could hear me."

He stood and gave a sharp nod to Hawk and Stargazer. "I think I'm ready."

Hawk grit her teeth and took a steadying breath. The iron mask came down and she squared her shoulders.

I took an involuntary step back, bracing myself for the tirade of orders I knew was coming.

"You heard the man," she shouted. "I want every able bodied apprentice in the garden! Step lively, lads. I need someone to run a message to the quartermaster."

Mouse looked sheepishly around the hall. "I can do that," he said. "It doesn't seem like anyone else around here is fit to run."

Hawk slapped a rolled up piece of parchment into his hand.

Mouse made the mistake of unrolling the scroll.

Hawk glared.

I winced.

"I didn't ask you to read," she shouted. "I asked you to run. Now move!"

Mouse stammered halfway through an apology before tearing off down the hall and rushing out the door.

I shook my head. "Poor little bugger," I muttered.

And that did it. It was my turn to have Hawk glare daggers right through my soul. All of a sudden, I envied Quin.

"Parsnip," she said. "You were ordered to gardens. Get moving or I'll bust your other leg."

I snapped her a quick Guild salute. "Yes Ser, Hawk. Right away, Ser."

I found a mostly healthy looking warrior and leaned on her as we made our way out into the garden. We made for an utterly miserable procession. The warriors who weren't weeping were hacking their lungs out into blood stained rags. The garden was half assembled when we arrived, with attendants scrambling to lay out tables and chairs. A chef nearly bowled me over on his way to set down a platter of bread and cheese. I was broken free of my supporting warrior and left to drift and the chaos spun around me. I knew what was happening but my heart seemed to be a few steps behind my head in this strange whirlwind dance. I knew that Sabre was dying, but I didn't feel it. Not yet anyway. There was a pit in my heart that should have been filled with sorrow, but instead there was only a bitter numbness.

Mouse sliced through the crowd and pulled me out of the eye of the storm, taking me by the hand and leading me to a secluded table at the rear of the garden. We were half hidden by an overgrown shrub and only a few steps away from a table bearing a platter of dried meats.

"How do you always do this?" I asked.

"Do what?" Mouse replied, putting a plate of meats and cheeses down in front of me. "Find the perfect table every time? It's my only real talent."

"Not your only talent. But it's a pretty good one." I looked out at the gathered warriors and Rangers. The garden was a dark reflection of the midsummer feast. The tables were laid out the same way. A band was preparing under the old spruce. A pair of Wizards sent a dim, amber enchanted lamp floating into the air. Tonight was midsummer with the hope and joy drained out of it.

"Do you think Quin will ever wake up?" I asked. A twinge of guilt sparked in me. We were here for Sabre tonight, but the only person on my mind was Quin. Was that selfish of me? Sabre and I had certainly never been close. I knew him mostly through Quin, and Quin didn't think too highly of him. But Sabre had still given his life for the Guild, given his life to help pull my dumb ass out of the fire and regardless of what Quin thought of him, that had at least earned him my respect.

A pulse of violet fire flickered behind Mouse's eyes. "I don't think Quin will wake up. I know they will."

"Okay," I said. That flash of flame lifted my spirits. If Mouse saw it, then I trusted in his clairvoyance. "That's good enough for me. I hope they wake up soon. We have a lot to talk about."

Mouse nodded and we sat together in silence for a long while as the warrior apprentices made their way one by one to the center of the garden and said a few words about Sabre. Most of the stories were surprisingly light and most of them were at Sabre's expense. Looking at it from the outside, you could almost believe this was some secret meeting for the apprentices to let off steam. The stories pulled a few tired laughs from the crowd that fell in equal measure to the tears.

Hawk joined us and put a hand on my shoulder, steadying herself as she scanned the crowd. Hawk the commander was long gone and she stood with her shoulders slumped, her head hung low. Her eyes were bloodshot and the tip of her nose was red. I'd never seen her look so frail, so wounded before.

"This is exactly what he wanted," she said. A sad smile ghosted across her lips. "I think he would have been happy with this." She reached down to her belt and handed me a short metal flask. "Here, drink up. Sabre said he wanted everyone drunk and laughing at his funeral. Share with Mouse."

Mouse held up both hands. "Oh I couldn't. I'm still an apprentice."

"I think we can make an exception for tonight," said Hawk.

I pulled the stopper from the flask but hesitated to take a drink. I wasn't in the mood to have my guts burned out by Aqua Vitae tonight. When Hawk wasn't looking, I poured some of the liquor into the plant behind me.

Mouse leaned to one side and squinted at something behind me. "Do that again."

Hawk frowned at him. "Do what?"

I turned and dumped another portion of the liquor into the plant. A handful of leaves fell off the shrub's branches and rained down on my shoulder.

"Give me that," said Mouse.

I handed him the flask and he poured some of the liquid out onto the table. The wood started to dry and flake almost instantly. "Hawk, you haven't noticed this stuff burning when you drink it?"

She shrugged. "It's supposed to burn. That's how it works."

Mouse pointed down at the flaking spot on the table and then at the dying branch behind me. "It's supposed to burn that much?"

Hawk shook her head.

"I don't think Sabre died from any injury. I think he was poisoned."